Expansion joint and seal

ABSTRACT

A combination expansion joint-seal having longitudinal frames made from aluminum extrusions extending longitudinally of an expansion joint for pavements and bridge decks. The expansion joint and seal are designed for joints of relatively small width and movement, e.g., between one-half inch minimum opening and 3 1/2 to 4 inches maximum opening. The longitudinal frames are mounted in new concrete or on previously laid pavement or bridge decks to be resurfaced with asphalt or other resurfacing material. The tread-seal is fixedly held in the longitudinal frames by elongated tongue and groove means and the joint space is spanned by at least one shallow, V-shaped, elastomer wall which deforms downwardly as the joint width becomes narrower.

United States Patent Brown Apr. 29, 1975 [54] EXPANSION AND SEAL FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [751 Invent Delmol" Brown North 251.841 [H967 Austria 404/64 Baltimore, Ohio 488,880 5/l97t) Switzerland 52/396 [73] Assignee: The D. S. Brown Company, North Baltimore Ohio Primary ExuminerRoy D. Frazier Assistant Examiner-Thomas J. Holko [22] filed: May 1973 Attorney. Agent. or FirmJohnston Keil, Thompson 211 App]. No.: 359,670 & Slwrtlefl 521 us. or. 404/48; l4/l6; 52/396; ABSTRACT 404/63 A combination expansion joint-seal having longitudi- [5 l] Int. Cl. Eol 11/12 nal frames made from aluminum extrusions extending [58] Field of Search 404/43. 64, 65. 66. 67. longitudinally of an expansion J' for pavements and 404/68. 69. 74; l4/l6; 52/396 bridge decks. The expansion joint and seal are designed for joints of relatively small width and move- [56] References Cit d ment, e.g.. between one'half inch minimum opening UNITED STATES PATENTS and 3 /2 to 4 inches maximum opening. The longitudi- 3.276.335 Iii/I966 Middlcstadt 404/48 nal frames mnumed "i new Concree or on prey. 33'6574 5H9 Pure V ousl lard pavement or bridge decks to be resurfaced 337L456 3H9 Bum, et 1m with asphalt or other resurfacing material. The tread- 3 373 52 3/|96g Thom n seal is fixedly held in the longitudinal frames by elon' 3.447.431) 6/l969 gated tongue and groove means and the joint space is 3.466.987 9/1969 spanned by at least one shallow. V-shaped. elastomer 3.527.009 /]970 wall which deforms downwardly as the joint width he- 3.659.39U 5/l972 comes narrower. 3.73102] 5/!973 3.750.359 s/wvs Balzar ct al 404/67 x 8 Claims. 8 Drawing Figures ,/ll '0 I2 I6 z 2 9 22 as -59 5 6 22 Q zs' I9 22 33 4s 33 I7 2| 4- :4 4 l7 A 38 I8 34 26 -l8/. A A 24 r 24 P a A V.. A E V" 23 23 1'.

SHEEI 2 BF 4 FIG. 3

PHENTED APR29 I975 EXPANSION JOINT AND SEAL INTRODUCTION The subject invention concerns improvements in expansion joint structures useful in the spanning of relatively narrow joints in pavement surfaces. particularly joints in pavement decks of bridges. The latter joints have a relatively narrow range of movement. i.e.. 0pen ing and closing. during expansion and contraction of sections of a bridge deck as the environmental temperature changes.

Expansion joints for bridges heretofore have involved heavy assemblies or subassemblies brought to the bridge site and mounted in the bridge joints by cranes or the like. One well known type of bridge expansion joint comprises a pair of heavy duty plates fixedly attached to opposite sides of the joint. The plates have projecting. intcrfitting fingers which span the joint and can move relative to each other if the joint opens or closes. Joints of this type cannot be effectively sealed against leakage of water from rain or melted ice or snow. The latter two in particular carry with them corrosive salts which. over a period of time. damage the superstructure of the bridge. its piers. and/or abutments.

Bridge designers and engineers have been giving more attention in recent years to use of bridge joints which are sealed against leakage of water and/or solids through the joint onto the underlying structure of the bridge. A relatively recent design for a scaled bridge joint embodies longitudinal. spaced rails resting on joint-spanning beams. Laterally compressible elastomer seals are compressed between the rails slightly below the upper surface thereof. The upper surfaces of g the rails lie substantially in the plane of the bridge deck. The tires of automobiles crossing the joint run across these upper surfaces of the rails while the elastomer seals are recessed enough to avoid contact with the automobile tires.

These known expansion joints are manufactured and preassembled at an off-site facility. compressed to a width allowing them to be inserted in the joint. hauled to the bridge site and laid in the joint with heavy duty cranes. Once installed. they are difficult to repair. Repair or replacement of a component usually involves closing the entire bridge or several lanes thereof to traftie in order that heavy duty equipment may be brought to the joint site to raise the expansion joint, repair it. and replace it back in the joint.

THE INVENTION HEREIN This invention provides improvements in expansion joint structures useful as bridge deck and pavement joints. The joint structure comprises a pair of opposed. elongated. side frames. preferably formed as aluminum extrusions. The side frames respectively have a side wall and a bottom wall with an upwardly facing. longitudinal. first groove in the bottom wall. This groove has opposed horizontal legs.

A second longitudinal groove, also opening upwardly. is formed at the juncture of the side and bottom walls and has a horizontal lip spaced from but extending toward the side wall. These grooves receive and hold deformable. longitudinal. tongues or beads projecting downwardly from the respective sides of an elastomer seal and tread extending completely across the joint between the respective side walls of the side frames.

The joint opening itself is spanned by at least one. preferably two. shallow. V-shaped. elastomer walls at tached to the respective side portions of the tread and seal. The V-shaped wall or walls bend progressively into deeper V shape configuration as the joint contracts.

The respective side frames are rigidly mounted along the longitudinal edge portion of the joint formed in the pavement or bridge deck. e.g.. concrete sections with a spacing therebetween to accommodate contraction and expansion of the respective sections and/or their underlying support structure. The side frames have a rear. longitudinal flange projecting rearwardly from the bottom ofthe vertical wall. This flange is provided with slot means to bolt the respective frames to the pavement or the bridge deck. The bottom wall of each side frame also preferably contains slot means to provide additional means for bolting the frames to the pavement or the bridge deck.

In one embodiment of the invention. the slot means in both the flange and the bottom wall are elongated. continuous longitudinal slots in the undersides of the flange and bottom wall. These slots receive nuts positionable at any desired place along the length of the slots. The nuts in turn received treaded ends of castin anchors. which are treaded in the nuts until the bolt and nut in each instance is firmly anchored in the slot. This embodiment utilizes concrete poured around the joint side frames after their placement on the bridge or pavement supporting structure. After curing. the con crete holds the frames in place.

In another embodiment of the invention. the slot means comprises short. longitudinally spaced slots stamped or otherwise cut out of the rear flange and bottom wall. These slots accommodate the shanks of bolt or stud anchors placed in vertical holes drilled in the cured concrete. The frames are held by nuts threaded on the anchors. The latter type of slot-bolt structure is principally useful in the placement of the side frames along the longitudinal edges of the joint where the pavement or bridge deck is to be resurfaced. or where the base structure is in place and does not lend itself to the placement of concrete. e.g.. in replacement of an existing joint. In this embodiment there is also a longitudinal groove or slot in the bottom wall to accommodate a compressible seal or piece of rubber which pre vents water from working down and under the frame from the joint between the pavement and the metal vertical wall.

The side frames preferably are fabricated as aluminum alloy extrusions. Each extrusion is relatively light in weight so that the joint may be assembled easily at the joint site without using heavy duty equipment. The frames are of relatively short lengths. e.g.. [2 feet. or other length corresponding approximately to the width for one lane of traffic ofthe road or bridge. This feature allows the joint to be constructed or repaired on a one lane at a time basis. while keeping other lanes open to traffic flow during maintenance. The side frame sections preferably have a gasket between abutting ends to seal the abutting ends against seepage of water at these points.

The abutting ends with the gasket therebetween utilize bracket and bolt means for drawing the frame sections together and compressing the gasket therebetween. In one embodiment ofthe invention the bolt and bracket means are mounted on the underside of the bottom wall of each frame section and remain in place when the concrete is poured. In the embodiment which is used in resurfacing of the pavement or bridge deck or replacing existing joints. the bolt and bracket means are attached to the upper side of the bottom wall. After the abutting frame sections have been drawn together. the bolts which attach the frame sections to the bolt anchors in the drilled concrete holes are tightened to hold the frame sections in place. after which the aforesaid bolt and bracket means are removed so that the seal and tread can be mounted in the frame sections.

The elastomer seal and tread is a continuous piece without joints subject to leakage and extends the full width and length of the joint. The longitudinal tongues or beads on the underside of the seal and tread snap into the upwardly facing channels or grooves in the manner aforedescribed.

As additional features for guarding against seepage of moisture or incompressible particles between the side walls of the respective frames and the abutting faces of the seal and tread. the side wall of each frame and the respective side portion of the tread are provided with interlocking. longitudinal. sawtoothed serrations. Also. the side frames preferably have a small. longitudinal lip overlying the upper corner of each side portion of the tread and seal. A positive seal against moisture penetrating the joint is provided by positive compression of the tongue or bead neck portions at the entry of the upwardly facing channels or grooves.

THE DRAWINGS Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings. wherein:

FIG. I is a fragmentary. isometric, transverse cross section of an expansion joint in concrete pavement or a concrete bridge deck with a first embodiment of the joint side frames and elastomer tread and seal mounted thereon. the joint being open to its approximate maximum width;

FIG. 2 is a transverse. fragmentary cross section of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the joint closed to its approximate minimum width;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary. isometric. transverse cross section of a joint in pavement or in a bridge deck with a second embodiment of the side frames positioned at the joint of pavement or a bridge deck which has been resurfaced;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary. top plan view of the opposed. side frame sections of the embodiment of FIG. 3'.

FIGS. 5 and 6. respectively. are a fragmentary. bottom plan view and a side elevation of abutting frame sections of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with bolt and bracket means drawing the abutting sections together and compressing therebetween a gasket; and

FIGS. 7 and 8. respectively. are a fragmentary. top plan view and a side elevation of the frame sections of FIG. 3 drawn together by bolt and bracket means to compress therebetween a gasket.

Referring to the drawings. FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a joint and seal 10 which is set in place prior to the pouring of the concrete pavement of the bridge deck. It comprises an elongated side frame 11 and an opposed. elongated side frame 12. The respective side frames are supported on recessed steps 13 and 14 which are formed when the concrete is poured at the joint. The

respective concrete sections have therebetween a space I5 forming an expansion joint accomodating expansion of the concrete sections and/or the underlying support structure therefor.

Each side frame 11 and I2 is composed of a vertical wall I6 having a rear flange l7 and a forwardly extending bottom wall IS. The rear flange I7 is provided with an elongated. longitudinal. downwardly facing groove 19 having at its bottom. entrant side opposed lips 20 and 2]. Nuts 22 for anchor rods 23 may be positioned at any desired points in the longitudinal groove I9. This free selection of positioning is advantageous in that the anchor rods 23 can be located or adjusted to any desired spacing and can also be moved in the event of interference between the anchor rod 23 and other components of the joint or the concrete. e.g.. reinforcing mesh or rods.

The anchor rods 23 have a treaded end 24, which is treaded into the nuts 22 until the end of the anchor rod abuts the top wall 25 of the downwardly facing groove 19. This creates a binding action to hold the anchor rod 23 at its desired location in the longitudinal groove 19.

The side frames may have mounted thereon a second series of anchor rods 27. The latter are seated in nuts 22 positioned in the longitudinal groove 26 which faces downwardly and has the same cross section as the groove 19. The longitudinal groove 26 is located in and extends longitudinally of the bottom wall I8.

The side frames are spanned both transversely and longitudinally by the seal and tread 10. which preferably is an elastomer extrusion of a low crystallization type neoprene formulation. It is optionally provided with longitudinally hollow sections 28 and 29 positioned in the seal and tread above the respective bottom walls 18 of the side frames. The seal and tread has solid elastomer sections 31 and 32 contiguous to the joint space 15. These solid sections each have a downwardly depending. deformable. elastomer. longitudinal. dovetailed tongue or bead 33 which can be pressed into and interlocked in a longitudinal slot 34 in the upper surface of the bottom wall 18 of each side frame. The longitudinal slot 34 has inwardly facing. opposed lips 35 and 36 which interlock and hold the tongue or bead in the respective slots 34 after the tongue or bead has been pressed into the slots 34.

Near the juncture of the vertical wall 16 and the bottom wall 18, each side frame has an inverted L-Ieg 37 forming a longitudinal slot 38 which opens upwardly. The seal and tread 30 is provided along each side edge thereof with a downwardly depending. dovetailed tongue 39 corresponding in cross section to one-half of the tongues or beads 33. The inverted L-leg 37 in each side frame forms a horizontal lip 40 (FIG. 2) extending toward but spaced from the side walls 16. The lips 40 interlock with the tongue 39 after the latter has been pressed into the longitudinal slot 38.

Preferably both the upper portion of the inner face of the side wall 16 and the upper portion of the sides of the seal and tread 30 have longitudinal. sawtoothedlike serrations 42 which serve a sealing function to prevent seepage of water and incompressibles between the vertical wall 16 and the ends of the tread and seal 30. Also. each side frame 11 and 12 preferably has a small longitudinal lip 43 overlying the upper corners of the seal and tread 30 to hold the latter in position as traffic passes over the joint. Such lips further serve an incompressible and water-sealing function. particularly in concert with the serrations 42. The neck portions of the longitudinal tongues or beads 33 and 39 are wider than the entrant portions of their respective slots (between lips 35 and 36 and between the edge of the lip 40 of L-leg 37 and side wall 16) so that water-tight seals are formed.

The side portions of the tread and seal 30 preferably include solid. elastomer segments 44 which are respectively joined with the solid, elastomer segments 32 by a thin upper wall 45 and a thin lower wall 46 thereby defining the longitudinal cavities or hollow spaces 28 and 29.

In the joints of the subject invention. the joint width is spanned in its entirety with at least an upper. connecting web or wall 48 having a shallow V- configuration which can become progressively deeper as the joint narrows in width. Preferably the solid sections 31 and 32 are connected not only by the upper wall or web 48 but also by a lower wall or web 49 with a longitudinal cavity or space 50 formed between these walls. The cavity or space 50 is provided to accommo date the downwardly deflecting center segment of the upper wall 48 as the joint narrows to its narrowest width shown in FIG. 2.

The side sections 11 and 12 are placed at the joint prior to pouring the concrete sections 51. The elastomer seal and tread 30 is mounted in the side frames after the concrete has set. Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the side frames 11 and 12 are composed of relatively short sections. e.g.. 12 feet, to provide at the end of each section an aligned side frame component 11a and 11b and 12a and 1211 (FIG. 5). Adjacent the abutting ends of these frame sections. a nut 52 is placed in the downwardly opening channel 26 in the bottom wall. A bolt 53, which extends through and holds the leg 55 of an L-bracket 54, is treaded into each of the four nuts 52 to hold the L-brackets firmly in position. Each L- bracket 55 has a vertical leg 56. A gasket 57 conforming in cross section to the side frames 11 and 12 is placed between the abutting ends of the sections Ila, Ilb and 12a. 12b. The vertical legs 56 have a bolt 58 extending therethrough. When the nut 59 is tightened on each bolt 58, the frame sections are drawn together to compress therebetween the gasket 57.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, 7 and 8. This embodiment constitutes a maintenance joint 60 useful when pavement or a bridge deck is resurfaced. The expansion joint between the previously laid concrete deck sections or pavement slabs 61 and 62 have therebetween the space 63 defining the joint between the concrete sections or slabs 61 and 62. The latter are covered with a resurfacing layer of asphalt or other resurfacing material 64. Prior to such resurfacing. however, side frames 11 and 12' are laid longitudinally along the edges defining the expansion joint. These side frames ll'and 12' preferably are aluminum extrusions of generally similar transverse cross section to the side frames I1 and 12, as can be seen by comparing FIGS. 1 and 3. The elastomer seal and tread 30 is the same in both embodiments.

The side frames 11' and 12' have a rear flange extending longitudinally along the lower edge of each vertical wall 16a. This rear flange is provided with longitudinal slots 66 at spaced intervals (FIG. 4). Additional longitudinal slots 67 may also be provided at longitudinally spaced intervals in the bottom wall of each side frame. e.g., in the bottom wall of an upwardly facing, relatively wide longitudinal groove 73.

The slots 66 and 67 accommodate therein varying positions of anchor bolts or expansion sleeve bolts 68 and 68a. which are set in the concrete sections 61 and 62 after drilling vertical holes to accommodate such bolts. Such holes must be drilled in places which avoid reinforcing steel (not shown) within the cured concrete. The jam bolts or expansion sleeve bolts 68 have an upper treaded end 69, upon each of which is treaded and tightened a nut 70 to fix the side frames II and I2 firmly in place. In FIG. 3. the anchor bolts or expansion sleeve bolts 68a are illustrated only in fragment in that such bolts are optional.

The rear flange 65 preferably has along its outer longitudinal edge a downwardly facing. T-shaped. longitudinal groove 71 in which is placed a neoprene seal 72. The latter seal functions to prevent migration of water and/or resurfacing material between the concrete sections or slabs 61 and 62 and the bottom wall of the side frames 11 and 12.

The longitudinal groove 73 in the upper face of the bottom wall has at its mouth, opposed, small lips 74 and 75. This groove may be used at abutting ends of sec tions of the side frames II and 12' to hold therein a splice bar 76 extending between abutting sections.

The abutting sections 11a. 11b and 12a. 12b (FIG 7) have therebetween gaskets 57a of the same cross section as the side frames ll and 12'. These sections are drawn together to compress therebetween the gas kets 57:: by L-bracket and bolt structures like those heretofore described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. In this instance. however, the L-brackets cannot be mounted on the underside of the side frame sections. Accordingly. the L-brackets 54 are secured in place by bolts 77 which will thread into tapped holes 78 provided in the bottom wall of the side groove 73 near the respective ends of each of the frame sections. The frame sections are drawn together by the tightening of the nuts 59 on their respective bolts 58 with the nuts 70 being loose or non-binding on the rear flange 65. The side frames 11' and 12' can move longitudinally due to the positioning of bolts 68 and 68a in the respective slots 66 and 67.

After the frame sections have been drawn together to provide the desired amount of compression of the gaskets 57a. the nuts 70 are tightened to hold the frame sections in the adjusted position. Thereafter the bolts 77 are treaded out of the tapped holes 28 to remove the bolt and bracket means from the respective sections. Thereafter the tread and seal 30 may be mounted in the side frames II and 12' as aforedescribed with regard to FIGS. 1 and 2.

It is thought that the invention and its numerous attendant advantages will be fully understood from the foregoing description. and it is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the form. construction and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages. the forms herein disclosed being preferred embodiments for the purpose of illustrating the invention.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

I. An expansion joint structure useful as bridge deck and pavement joints comprising a pair of opposedv elongated, side frames respectively having a vertical wall and a bottom wall with an upwardly-facing, longitudinal. first groove in said bottom wall. said groove having opposed. horizontal lips. a second longitudinal groove formed at the juncture of said vertical and bottom walls and having a horizontal lip. means for rigidly mounting said frames along the respective edges of a pavement or bridge deck joint. an elastomer tread extending across said joint between said frames with low gitudinal side portions of said tread overlying the bottom wall of each of said frames. elastomer. longitudinal beads on the bottom of said tread releasably interlocked in said grooves in said side frames. said side portions of said tread being connected by elastomer all means which spans the joint and which deforms as the joint contracts. said frames each having a longitudinal flange projecting horizontally away from said bottom wall at the bottom of said vertical wall. slot means in both said bottom wall and said flange for accomodating bolt means for securing said frames to pavement or a bridge deck. and said frames comprising abutting. end to-end sections with a gasket therebetween. a bracket attached to each enddo-end section by bolts mounted in said slot means. and additional bolt means extending through respective brackets for drawing said sections together and compressing the gasket therebetween.

2. A joint structure as claimed in claim 1, said elastomer wall means of said tread having an upper. shallow V-shaped wall and a lower. shallow V-shaped wall respectively spanning said joint. and a hollow space between said upper and lower walls into which said upper V-shaped wall can project as it assumes a deeper V- shape.

3. A joint structure as claimed in claim 1. said slot means being a pair of downwardly facing. elongated. continuous longitudinal slots in the undersides of said flange and bottom wall.

4..A joint structure as claimed in claim 1. said slot means being a plurality of slots cut through said flange and bottom wall.

5. A joint structure as claimed in claim 1. the vertical wall of each frame and the respective side portion of said tread having interlocking. longitudinal serrations.

6. A joint structure as claimed in claim 1. said elastomer tread being a continuous piece extending the full width and length of the joint.

7. Ajoint structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said slot means comprises a pair of downwardly facing. elongated. continuous. longitudinal slots in the undersides of said flange and said bottom wall of each side frame. and anchor bolt means for securing said frames to pavement or a bridge deck longitudinally adjustably positioned in and projecting downwardly from said downwardly facing slots.

8. A joint structure as claimed in claim 7 wherein said anchor bolt means constitute nuts longitudinally slidably laid in said downwardly facing slots and anchor bolts threaded into said respective nuts until the respective nuts and bolts bind in respective slots for locking respective nuts and bolts at the desired. longitudinal position in the respective slots. 

1. An expansion joint structure useful as bridge deck and pavement joints comprising a pair of opposed, elongated, side frames respectively having a vertical wall and a bottom wall with an upwardly-facing, longitudinal, first groove in said bottom wall, said groove having opposed, horizontal lips, a second longitudinal groove formed at the juncture of said vertical and bottom walls and having a horizontal lip, means for rigidly mounting said frames along the respective edges of a pavement or bridge deck joint, an elastomer tread extending across said joint between said frames with longitudinal side portions of said tread overlying the bottom wall of each of said frames, elastomer, longitudinal beads on the bottom of said tread releasably interlocked in said grooves in said side frames, said side portions of said tread being connected by elastomer wall means which spans the joint and which deforms as the joint contracts, said frames each having a longitudinal flange projecting horizontally away from said bottom wall at the bottom of said vertical wall, slot means in both said bottom wall and said flange for accomodating bolt means for securing said frames to pavement or a bridge deck, and said frames comprising abutting, end-to-end sections with a gasket therebetween, a bracket attached to each end-to-end section by bolts mounted in said slot means, and additional bolt means extending through respective brackets for drawing said sections together and compressing the gasket therebetween.
 2. A joint structure as claimed in claim 1, said elastomer wall means of said tread having an upper, shallow V-shaped wall and a lower, shallow V-shaped wall respectively spanning said joint, and a hollow space between said upper and lower walls into which said upper V-shaped wall can project as it assumes a deeper V-shape.
 3. A joint structure as claimed in claim 1, said slot means being a pair of downwardly facing, elongated, continuous longitudinal slots in the undersides of said flange and bottom wall.
 4. A joint structure as claimed in claim 1, said slot means being a plurality of slots cut through said flange and bottom wall.
 5. A joint structure as claimed in claim 1, the vertical wall of each frame and the respective side portion of said tread having interlocking, longitudinal serrations.
 6. A joint structure as claimed in claim 1, said elastomer tread being a continuous piece extending the full width and length of the joint.
 7. A joint structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said slot means comprises a pair of downwardly facing, elongated, continuous, longitudinal slots in the undersides of said flange and said bottom wall of each side frame, and anchor bolt means for securing said frames to pavement or a bridge deck longitudinally adjustably positioned in and projecting downwardly from said downwardly facing slots.
 8. A joint structure as claimed in claim 7 wherein said anchor bolt means constitute nuts longitudinally slidably laid in said downwardly facing slots and anchor bolts threaded into said respective nuts until the respective nuts and bolts bind in respective slots for locking respective nuts and bolts at the desired, longitudinal position in the respective slots. 